Plymouth County residents face increase in mosquito control costs

Taxpayers throughout Plymouth County could be facing a serious hike in mosquito control costs this year, to pay for capital needs.

By Amy Carboneau

Wicked Local

By Amy Carboneau

Posted Apr. 25, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Apr 25, 2013 at 1:42 PM

By Amy Carboneau

Posted Apr. 25, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Apr 25, 2013 at 1:42 PM

BRIDGEWATER

» Social News

Taxpayers in Plymouth County could see sizable hikes in their community’s share of mosquito control costs in the next fiscal year.

Bridgewater residents could face a $10,000 increase over the last fiscal year, while Middleboro residents could pay more than $15,000 more. The new fiscal year starts on July 1.

That’s compared to an approximate $3,000-$5,000 increase for nearby Bristol County communities, such as Easton and Raynham.

Tony Texeira, superintendent for the Plymouth County Mosquito Control Project, said the money is needed to replace the sprayers on the eight trucks used for ground spraying and the systems that run them.

“We usually have EEE threats at the end of the season. That’s when the systems start to break down,” Texeira said. “So we don’t want to be in that bind.”

Bridgewater and Middleboro are in the geographic area threatened each year by the mosquito-borne disease of Eastern equine encephalitis, which can lead to death. Based on that threat, health authorities in southeastern Massachusetts have fought for a hike in mosquito control funding to pay for more spraying.

But the proposed higher assessments for Plymouth County this year don’t necessarily mean more spraying will take place because the extra funds would be used for capital expenses.

Texeira said a tax-exempt loan that he is seeking to help pay for his capital needs could reduce the assessments.

“I know it’s a hardship on the towns to have an increase like that,” he said.

His total capital cost is approximately $146,000, which would be divided among Plymouth County’s 28 communities based on the town’s size and tax base, Texeira said. His total budget is approximately $1.7 million, he said.

Texeira proposes the initial budget each year for his county. It goes to the State Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board, which approves it and sends it to the state Department of Revenue.

Towns are then assessed by the state based on three factors: the number of residents, property value and land area within the community, according to Lee Corte-Real, chairman of the state reclamation board. He said the state board will likely approve the mosquito assessments for Plymouth County.

State Rep. Angelo D’Emilia, R-Bridgewater, said he has filed an amendment to the proposed state budget to add $400,000 to Bristol and Plymouth county mosquito control projects to help pay for pesticides and spraying.

“If I can get some additional funding,” he said, “I want to try to do my part.”

Ellen Bidlack, an entomologist for the mosquito control project for 14 years, said it’s too early to predict the disease threat this season. Mosquito population depends on the weather.

“Nobody at this point really can tell you what’s going to happen with the virus,” she said.

Page 2 of 2 - The Plymouth County project started its aircraft larvicide spraying this week. Ground spraying began about two weeks ago, she said.